Portrait XO: the 1st AI singing voice by Dadabots (custom SampleRNN)

This is the 2nd digital collectible from 'Sittin on a' 'Wire' music video feat. the 1st AI singing voice designed by Dadabots based on 1-hour recording of my vocals.

When I collaborated with Dadabots in 2019 during our artist residency at Factory Berlin x Sonar+D, I was really intentional about using my own recordings as training data without any pre-trained models. I wanted to understand what concentrated biased data of just my voice would sound like through AI. I also wanted to have full agency over the use of my voice with AI.

As I've been using different technologies to challenge my craft as a musician and visual artist, I've faced a lot of misconceptions about what it means to use AI as an artist. One of the main misconceptions is that everyone who uses AI wants creativity to be automated and replace roles. My answer: why would I ever want to replace myself? I wish I was faster with my work. In a lot of ways, using AI to co-create lyrics and melodies with my 'other' self has been the most inspiring new approach to songwriting; I'd love to see other singers/songwriters try this out. I've tried a few other AI models like RAVE and MelSpecVAE audio generators and still have yet to hear anything like this custom SampleRNN model by Dadabots. This combination of output never fails to astonish me: lyrics + melodies + vocal techniques I've never sung before.

Recently most asked question:

Q: Was there any text-to-audio involved for lyrics?
A: No, it's pure audio. The soundbite to this video is an example of one of the AI-generated audio of my voice

I think whatever methods we use to help us finish creative endeavours should ultimately enhance, push, or challenge our skills to better our human skills. If we become better writers, producers, and artists with our own minds, hands, and execution then I think tech as tools have done their job to assist us.

I finished writing and producing this album in 3 months which is a record for me because I usually take so much longer until I'm 'happy' with anything. Finalizing the mixes, conceptualizing all the visuals for live performances, music videos, and audiovisual collectibles for on-chain to vinyl production has taken a lot longer than I expected. I've expanded a lot of new skills and grateful to have new visions of future work through this project.

For this music video, I wanted to express my personal journey and hybrid approach to co-creating with AI. Filmed during the severe lockdown in Berlin winter, it was illegal to be indoors or outdoors with more than a few people. Thanks to all the great humans who helped bring this vision to life.

Full credits:

Original music and production: Portrait XO AI-generated vocals of Portrait XO: Dadabots Filmed, Directed, and Edited: Mikael Brain (Schwarz & LUX) Wardrobe: Bonnie Bones AI visuals: Alexandre Silveira and Portrait XO 3D animated sonic object: Harriet Davey

'Wire' on-chain to Vinyl: collect individual tracks + remixes or bundle to get the vinyl here - https://bit.ly/45cOneC.

FULL VIDEO 48hr AUCTION LIVE from 18.08.2023 https://www.soundobsessed.com/tokens/35

TY <3